When your child is in full meltdown mode, what do you do?
If you’ve ever felt like you’re trying to hold it together while everything around you is falling apart—you’re not alone. In this powerful episode, Brigitte talks with Lisa Candera, solo mom to a teen with severe autism and OCD, full-time attorney, and certified life coach for autism moms.
Lisa shares the hard-earned tools that helped her stop reacting out of overwhelm and start responding with calm, clarity, and compassion. She introduces her Meltdown Action Plan—a simple, step-by-step approach to staying regulated when your child isn’t.
🔑 You’ll hear about:
- The concept of being the “solid object” in your child’s storm
- Why your nervous system—not your child’s behavior—is the place to start
- How to prepare before, stay grounded during, and recover after a meltdown
- Strategies for managing guilt when you don’t respond perfectly
Lisa’s free resource: the Meltdown Action Plan, available at
This episode is packed with empathy, insight, and practical guidance for parents navigating intense emotional moments—and learning to show up differently.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
03:00 Lisa Candera's Story and Parenting Challenges
05:21 Navigating Parenting with ADHD
07:58 Shifting from Fixing to Managing Emotions
13:11 Implementing the Solid Object Strategy
19:31 Handling Meltdowns and Parental Guilt
28:59 Self-Compassion and Evaluation
30:01 Mantras and Intellectual Decisions
31:09 Understanding Stress and Parenting Challenges
32:21 The Importance of Support and Community
35:47 Introducing the Meltdown Action Plan
37:32 Implementing the Meltdown Action Plan
44:33 The Power of Pausing
49:52 Regulating Yourself for Your Child
52:57 Conclusion and Resources
🔗 Resources & Links
Lisa's Website:
https://theautismmomcoach.com/
Learn more and join the Chill & Chat Membership:
https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com/chillandchat
Purchase my book A Mother's Guide Through Autism:
https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com/book
Sign up to get news and updates from me: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com
Theme song: "Look at the clouds" by Tristan Lohengrin
tristanlohengrin.bandcamp.com
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